Customers will be able to both stream and download as much music as they want for an undisclosed monthly subscription fee, but repeat file-sharers will face a “temporary suspension of internet access.”
UK ISP Virgin Media and Universal Music today announced plans for a revolutionary new digital music service designed that promises to bring about a “rapid and permanent change in the way UK consumers buy and listen to music.”
In a “world first,” Virgin Media will offer broadband customers a monthly subscription service, price as yet undisclosed, that will allow them to both stream and download as much music as they want from Universal Music’s entire catalog.
“In terms of both convenience and value, our new music service will be superior to anything that’s available online today and provides a fair deal for both consumers and artists,” said Neil Berket, Virgin Media’s CEO. “There is no better example of Virgin Media’s commitment to harnessing digital technology to give customers what they want, when they want and how they want.”
Unlike other services, users will be able to keep downloaded music permanently. An “entry level” offer will also be available for customers who download music regularly, but may not want an unlimited service.
The service is intended to launch later this year. Virgin Media is negotiating with other UK major and independent music labels and publishers to ensure it can offer a complete, compelling catalog by the time it launches.
The new service reflects an apparent renewed commitment by both parties to satisfy the demands of customers for digital music while simultaneously fighting music piracy on the Virgin Media network. For in order to win Universal’s approval Virgin Media has agreed to implement a “range of different strategies to educate file sharers about online piracy and to raise awareness of legal alternatives.”
This includes, as a “last resort” for repeat file-sharers, a “temporary suspension” of internet access. It does however, stress that “no customers will be permanently disconnected” and the “process will not depend on network monitoring or interception of customer traffic by Virgin Media.”
“Britain has a world-class reputation for artists and music,” said Lucian Grainge, Chairman and Chief Executive of Universal Music Group International. “Now British consumers will have access to a world-class digital music service. I believe this puts all of us at the forefront of a new era.”
Back in January UK ISP Virgin Media scrapped plans for a “Virgin Music Unlimited” plan after last minute demands by major record labels that it block file-sharing with PCs not owned by subscribers to the service.
This announcement means that at least one label has realized that it’s about time it began offering what customers want, bringing the music industry full circle to a business model that had been first proposed by Napster during the birth of file-sharing nearly 10 years ago this month.
However, threatening to disconnecting accused file-sharers, even temporarily, goes against what Virgin Media stressed last July when it renounced such a plan as part of it and the British Phonographic Industry’s (BPI) joint “education campaign.”
“It is important to let our customers know that their accounts have been used in a certain way but we are happy to accept it may not be the account holder that’s involved,” said Asam Ahmad, a spokesperson from Virgin Media, at the time.
“It could be someone else in the family or someone living in a shared house. It could even be someone stealing wi-fi. We are not making any form of accusation.”
So in order to get Universal on board it promised to begin “making accusations,” and holding perhaps innocent people responsible.
If record labels are the ones responsible for making and verifying the accusations then hopefully Virgin Media will be the one held responsible in the end.
jared@zeropaid.com
Related
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- Virgin Media: ‘We Have No Plans to Disconnect Illegal File-Sharers
- Nokia to Offer 1 Year of Free Music Downloads With New Phone
Virgin….You’re no longer a virgin if you;re being fucked by Universal.
Don’t let universal fuck your customers too, you don’t want to be a pimp.